Systems and methods for integrating radio-frequency identification circuitry into flexible circuits

• US 8,584,955 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2010
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Mauricia, Juan Carlos
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G
• Assistant Examiner(s): ELLIS, SUEZU Y
• Application Number:
  US12/884,736
• Publication Number:
  US 20120067961A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,159 Days
• Field of Search: 235/492, 235/439, 235/441, 235/451, 340/572.1, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 340/539.1, 455/558, 455/559
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/4985 Flexible insulating substrates H01L23/49572 and H01L23/49855 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/49855 for flat-cards, e.g. credit cards cards per se G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/14 Integrated circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/189 characterised by the use of a flexible or folded printed circuit H05K3/326 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09754 Connector integrally incorporated in the printed circuit board [PCB] or in housing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10098 Components for radio transmission, e.g. radio frequency identification [RFID] tag, printed or non-printed antennas
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49018 with other electrical component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49126 Assembling bases

Abstract

Systems and methods for integrating radio-frequency identification (RFID) circuitry into flexible circuits are provided. An RFID integrated circuit can be embedded within a dielectric layer of a flexible circuit or between a dielectric layer and a conductive layer of the flexible circuit. Additionally or alternatively, an RFID antenna may be integrated into a conductive layer of the flexible circuit. Alternatively, both the integrated circuit and antenna of RFID circuitry may be provided off of the flexible circuit but an RFID connector coupling the integrated circuit and antenna may be integrated into the flexible circuit.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a flexible circuit; and

a radio-frequency identification (“

RFID”

) circuitry comprising;

an integrated circuit;

an antenna; and

a connector that couples the integrated circuit to the antenna, wherein

the flexible circuit comprises an insulation via separating an RFID data portion from a flex data portion; and

the RFID data portion comprises at least a portion of the antenna.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the connector is integrated into the flexible circuit;

the integrated circuit is integrated into the flexible circuit; and

the antenna is integrated into the flexible circuit.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the insulation via extends through the flexible circuit, and the integrated circuit is positioned between the insulation via and a side of the flexible circuit.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the flexible circuit comprises a first conductive layer positioned along a first surface of a first dielectric layer; and

the integrated circuit is one of;

positioned within a pocket in the first dielectric layer; and

positioned between the first conductive layer and the first dielectric layer.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein:

the flexible circuit further comprises a second conductive layer positioned along a second surface of the first dielectric layer that is opposite the first surface of the first dielectric layer; and

at least a portion of the second conductive layer does not extend to a position adjacent the integrated circuit and

at least a portion of the antenna is integrated into the first conductive layer.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the antenna is integrated into the first conductive layer.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the flexible circuit comprises a first conductive layer positioned along a first surface of a first dielectric layer; and

the antenna is integrated into the first conductive layer.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein:

the flexible circuit further comprises a second conductive layer positioned along a second surface of the first dielectric layer that is opposite the first surface of the first dielectric layer; and

at least a portion of the second conductive layer does not extend to a position adjacent the antenna.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the integrated circuit is one of:

positioned within a pocket in the first dielectric layer; and

positioned between the first conductive layer and the first dielectric layer; and

at least a first portion of the connector is integrated into the flexible circuit.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein:

the flexible circuit comprises a first conductive layer positioned along a first surface of a first dielectric layer; and

the first portion of the connector is at least one of;

positioned within the first dielectric layer;

positioned within the first conductive layer; and

positioned between the first dielectric layer and the first conductive layer; and

at least one of the integrated circuit and the antenna is integrated into the flexible circuit.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first electronic component; and

a conductive via embedded in a dielectric layer in the flexible circuit; and

a second electronic component coupled to the first electronic component through the conductive via.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first electronic component comprises a circuit board;

and

the second electronic component comprises a transducer.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein

the flexible circuit;

the RFID circuitry;

the first electronic component; and

the second electronic component, are included in a single electronic device.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein:

a portion of the connector is integrated into the flexible circuit; and

a portion of the integrated circuit is provided on the first electronic component.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein:

a portion of the integrated circuit is integrated into the flexible circuit; and

a portion of the connector is provided on the second electronic component.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein the integrated circuit is included in the first electronic component and the connector coupling the integrated circuit to the antenna extends through the flexible circuit.

17. The system of claim 1 further comprising a second RFID data portion separated from the flex data portion by a second insulation via.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein the flexible circuit comprises a stack of one or more conductive layers and one or more dielectric layers.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein at least one of the one or more dielectric layers is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of polyimide, polyester, polyethylene napthalate, polyetherimide, polyurethane, a fluoropolymer, and combinations thereof.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein at least one of the one or more conductive layers comprises a layer of a material selected from the group consisting of copper, gold, and aluminum;

and the at least one of the one or more conductive layers is selected from the group consisting of an annealed layer and a plated layer.

21. The system of claim 18, further comprising an adhesive layer between at least a portion of a top conductive layer and a least a portion of a top surface of at least one of the one or more dielectric layers.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit is integrated into the flexible circuit.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the antenna is positioned between the insulation via and a side of the flexible circuit.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a first portion of the connector is integrated into the flexible circuit.